ZAMBIA LAUNCHES REDUCE ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES (RAP) CAMPAIGN

By ANNIE ZULU

Government has launched the Reduce Adolescent Pregnancies (RAP) campaign with the aim of preventing early and unintended adolescent pregnancies in Zambia.

Speaking during the official launch of the campaign in Lusaka, Vice President Mrs Mutale Nalumango, who was represented by Community Development and Social Services Minister, Ms. Doreen Mwamba said this was one of Government's many interventions towards the high prevalence of adolescent pregnancies in the country.

Mrs. Nalumango noted that adolescent pregnancies are a threat to national development and that Government working with various stakeholders is scaling up efforts toward the issue.

“As Government, we are certain that all efforts coupled with this campaign will see a big reduction in adolescent pregnancies,” Mrs Nalumango said.

The Vice President also encouraged children to make right decisions and get the required skills to be productive citizens in future.

And Ms. Mwamba whose Ministry seats the Child Development Department, said her Ministry is strengthening sensitization and training programmes targeted at vulnerable households and individuals, as many incidences of adolescent pregnancies occur due to factors associated with poverty and vulnerability.

In a speech read on her behalf by Child Development Department Director Bridget Mooya, the Minister said her Ministry is also enhancing the the welfare and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people, reducing developmental inequalities and mitigating violence against women and children, among others.

Ministry of Education Education Minister Douglas Syakalima  who was represented by the Ministry Directo´s for Health and Nutrition Malalu Mulundika, stated that statistics shows that 16, 419 girls dropped out of school in 2020 due to pregnancy and that only 7, 954 were re-addmited.

Minister of Health Ms. Silvia Masebo represented by the Ministry`s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Professor Luckson Kasonka, stressed the need to empower adolescents with knowledge and information on condoms as dual protection against pregnancy and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) and on contraceptives to prevent pregnancy.

Meanwhile, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Gift Malunga assured Government and Zambia of the UN`s support towards ending adolescent pregnancies in the Country.

And giving on vote of thanks on behalf of her fellow children Sithembile Mwale thanked Government and stakeholders for their efforts towards ending adolescent pregnancies in Zambia, which she described as an urgent issue which must be addressed.

Also present at the event was Youth, Sport and Art Minister Elvis Nkandu, British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley and other various stakeholders.